Chapter 45: A Large-Scale Player Meetup

Zhao Haiping arrived at the equipment distribution area. The staff here were just as serious as those at the entrance, almost as if they were genuinely preparing for a defensive counterattack against demons. Their acting skills and dedication set the mood so well that Zhao Haiping felt like giving them a perfect score.

There were already twenty to thirty players at the scene, lined up in an orderly queue to receive their equipment. The checks were strict; not only was identification verified before entering, but it was also checked again when receiving equipment to prevent unqualified people from sneaking in.

Soon, it was Zhao Haiping's turn. A staff member handed him a specially designed helmet. Zhao took a closer look and noticed that it didn't look too different from the VR gaming headset he usually used, except that there were a few extra straps around the neck area that needed to be secured on the shoulders and upper body.

Additionally, the helmet was much lighter than a regular VR headset, making it comfortable and unobtrusive.

"Is this an MR gaming helmet?" Zhao Haiping was surprised. Given that this was MR (mixed reality), shouldn't it look different from a VR helmet? At the very least, it should expose the eyes or have a few more cameras, right? Would he still be able to see the real world while wearing this?

"You'll understand once you put it on," the staff member replied, unable to explain further because, like Du Gang's other colleagues, they didn't know the helmet's principles or exact usage. Their mission was simple: ensure the players wore the helmets correctly and began fighting according to the instructions of the Orderers. They were also to maintain security and, in case of any unexpected incidents, minimize potential casualties.

With the helmet on, Zhao Haiping found his vision entirely blacked out as the staff member fastened the straps around his shoulders and torso. He speculated that the straps were designed to prevent the helmet from slipping during the intense physical movements typical of an MR game.

While Zhao's guess wasn't exactly right, he wasn't entirely off-base. The real purpose of the straps was to prevent players from taking off their helmets during battle. Many players in MR games would attempt to sneak a look at what was real and what was virtual by removing the helmet or glasses. In this case, however, removing the helmet could reveal everything. Although discovering the truth wouldn't cause much harm—players who realized it could simply be moved to a non-combat role, similar to Du Gang—the Orderers aimed to minimize such cases to preserve manpower.

Thus, the straps kept the helmet secure and made it harder for players to remove it during the action—a clever solution.

Once all the players were fully equipped, their vision gradually returned.

"Whoa!" Zhao Haiping was astonished to find that his field of view was completely unobstructed. Typically, wearing a helmet or glasses in real life would block part of the peripheral view, but the *Dark Sands* MR headset didn't have this issue. He could only tell he was wearing it when he touched it with his hands.

Looking around, Zhao noticed that the other players' appearances had changed drastically—they now looked like their in-game avatars! Assassins, Warriors, Scholars, and Rangers were all dressed in their respective attire, with easily recognizable distinctions. He looked down and saw himself clad in a Warrior's armor, feeling the weight and sensation of the plates moving against each other, just as in the game. The armor felt cold to the touch, incredibly real.

"Amazing! This really is cutting-edge MR technology. With the consciousness transfer from VR and real-world integration, it feels like genuine time travel!"

Zhao Haiping was thoroughly impressed with the company's technological prowess. Previously, some companies claimed to have developed MR games, but they only added simple overlays on the real-world view, making it easy to distinguish real from virtual. In comparison, *Dark Sands* was in a league of its own.

It appeared that *Dark Sands* had somehow merged its groundbreaking 100% realistic consciousness transfer technology with MR, achieving an almost indistinguishable blend of real and virtual.

Moreover, Zhao's field of view displayed new information:

"In the 'Demon Invasion' MR game mode, players can acquire any cold weapon, including but not limited to long swords, spears, and bows.

When injured, a red bleeding effect will appear on the screen, providing a sensation of injury. Sustaining a fatal wound will result in automatic game exit."

Zhao was curious. "Acquiring any cold weapon? How?"

He imagined holding a spear, and the next moment, a standard Warrior's spear materialized in his hands! Dropping it on the ground, he noticed it persisted for a while before disappearing.

Not only could he summon a spear, but he could also conjure swords, bows, and other weapons with ease. One rather impulsive player tried slicing his own arm, only to wince in pain and bear a fresh wound.

Zhao sighed, realizing that the player base indeed had all sorts of characters. Fortunately, the player was cautious and didn't inflict a severe injury, sparing himself an early exit from the battle.

Warriors, Assassins, and Rangers all began picking out their preferred weapons. The Scholars, however, were left somewhat puzzled. Clad in simple robes, they felt out of place holding swords, spears, or other weapons, as they hadn't trained for combat in their trials. Carrying a book also seemed odd.

Seeing the remaining time, Zhao noted there were still around thirty minutes before the official start of the event.

Just then, a Scholar approached him. "Are you Zhao Haiping?"

Zhao was momentarily surprised, then recognized the figure. "Chu Ge?"

Chu Ge nodded, "Yes. You're a bit more refined than I imagined. I thought you'd be a burly guy."

Zhao laughed, "You're about what I expected."

Although both lived in Tiandu City and chatted frequently online, this was their first time meeting in person. As for Huo Yunyin, he wasn't in Tiandu and was likely participating in the event at another location.

The scene soon turned into a lively offline meetup, with players sharing their game experiences and planning to exchange contacts after the event.

Meanwhile, Meng Yuan observed this with satisfaction. Naturally, as the only genuine Orderer, he was present at the scene. This tech park was the largest contact point for the historical fragment intersecting with the real world, indicating that the most enemies would appear here. Although the players would handle most of the combat, Meng Yuan needed to personally oversee the event to feel assured.

To avoid drawing attention, Meng Yuan had joined as a player himself, having recently completed the Ranger trial. Though he could clear the other trials, he didn't find it necessary to do so, preferring to focus on supporting the players.

Watching the Scholars' uncertainty, Meng Yuan approached and subtly suggested, "Based on the description of the 'Haoran Righteousness' skill, it seems that any appropriate words could have a beneficial effect on others. Perhaps try reciting a poem?"